Dental apparatus



May 13, 1947. R. w. PAGE DENTAL APPARATUS Filed Nov. 20, 1943 PatentedMay 13, 1947 y UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE DENTAL APPARATUS Richard W.Page, Chappaqua, N. Y. Application November 20, 1943, Serial No. 511,073

4 Claims. l

This invention relates to improvements in dental instruments.

It is an object of the invention to provide improved fluid spraymeansfor water or air, or both, in conjunction with a dental drill. handpiece or angle attachment therefor.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved temperatureregulating and control means in conjunction with air and water supplymeans.

With these and still other objects which will appear in the followingfull description in mind, the invention consists in the combinations andarrangements of parts and details of construction which will now firstbe fully described in connection with the accompanying drawing and thenbe more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a hand piece and angleattachment embodying the invention in a preferred form, and showing theassociated fluid systems diagrammatically;

Figures 2, 3 and 4 are cross sections taken on the respective lines 2-2;3-3; and 4--4 of Figure l;

Figure 5 is a detail View looking toward the tip of the apparatus ofFigure 1 and showing the relation of the air and water nozzles to thedrill;

Figure 6 is a longitudinal section through the air nozzle of Figures 1and 5; and,

Figure 'l is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of Figure 1,showing the water line valve mechanism. f

As shown in Figure 1, the invention contemplates the use of aconventional attachment I removably mounted on the usual hand piece 2.Inasmuch as these mechanisms are well known in themselves and thespeciic form of angle attachment, hand piece and drive means which areemployed form no part of the present invention. no further descriptionof such parts is necessary to a full understanding of the invention.

The invention contemplates the provision of air and water nozzles inconjunction with the drilling instrument, this in itself having beenpreviously proposed, but contemplates also a novel arrangement of partsin such an assembly for facilitating the use of the various elements ofthe complete apparatus and also provides a novel and improved heatingand control system therefor, the advantages of which will be pointed outin the course of the following description.

While the invention will be found to be more necessary in connectionwith anangle attachment, than with a straight drill (due to the natureof the work customarily done with the two types of instruments), theinvention is not limited in its broader aspect to use with an angleattachment, but is also applicable to dental drill instrumentsgenerally.

As shown in Figures 1 and 5, there is provided adjacent the chuck orsocket 3 for the drill or other tool 4, a water nozzle 5 and anairnozzle 6, these members being fastened to the angle attachment. Thenozzles are constructed so as to project a stream of water or air pastthe drill 4 and closely adjacent thereto but so directed as L not to bebroken up by the drill but to pass the same as substantially undisturbedjets. The water line 1 and air line 8 are carried back along thecontra-angle and hand piece as shown, and are conveniently broughttogether in a iiexible sheath or tubing 9 which is supported, as bymeans of a hanger I0, adjacent the drive end of the handpiece andconnects to an air and water supply unit I I which is showndiagrammatically in Figure 1 and may be placed in any convenientlocation. This location will generally be within theA dental cabinet orso-called unit." The air and water supply unit Il may be constructed inany convenient manner so as to carry out the thermal and controlconditions discussed below, but is conveniently made in the form of adouble container comprising an inner water container I2 surrounded by anelectric heating element I3 which is in turn surrounded by an outercontainer I4 which forms an air jacket surrounding the water container.Means such as the re- 'movable cap I5 is provided for filling the innercontainer I2 with water and the water is discharged through an outlettube I6 from a point adjacent the bottom of the container into the waterline 1. The heater I3 is controlled by means of a thermostat Il in thewater within the container I2.

Air under pressure issupplied from any convenient source through the airsupply line I8. The air line I8 has two branches, one branch I9connecting with the upper part of the water container, as shown, so asto maintain pressure on the water for the purpose of forcing it upthrough the outlet tube I6 and water line 1, and the other `branch goingthrough a switch and air valve mechanism 2l and thence through the line22 into the air jacket within the outer container I4 which, in turn, isconnected with the air line 3, as shown. The` switch and air valvemechanism is designed to be operated by means of a foot pedal 23,depressing which opens a normally closed air valve and also closes aswitch for controlling a heater in the nozzle of the air line (Figure6), as later described. Inasmuch as any convenient switch and valvemechanism may be employed, this apparatus is not shown in detail. As`lust described, the air valve mechanism is controlled by a foot pedal23 at a point remote from the instrument, this expedient being adoptedso as to eliminate the need for hand control of the air. Water line 1passes through a clamp valve shown in detail in Figure 7, and comprisinga strap or collar 24 passing around the barrel of the hand piece andcarrying a spring 25, one end 26 of which is fixed to the collar 24, andthe other end 21 of which normally compresses the line 1 so as to closethe same. An arm 28 mounted on the spring 25 is utilized to open theline 1, this being accomplished through movement in the direction of thearrow in Figure 7, by means of a link 28 which is fastened .to a slidemember 30. The slide member 3D is slidably carried, as best shown inFigures 1 and 4, by means of flanges 3l passing under and cooperatingwith flanges 32 formed on a member 33 which passes around and is securedto the angle attachment. Pushing the slide 3D rearwardly accordinglyopens the water valve, projecting a jet of water through the nozzle 5.

Lines 1 and 8 are preferably made of metallic tubing up to the collar 24and are fastened thereto, the continuation of these lines, past thepoints X and Y respectively, being made of flexible tubing. Toward themiddle of the hand piece, there is provided a further electric heaterunit 34 which surrounds the lines 1 and 8 as shown in Figure 3 and whichis affixed to collars 35 which fit around the barrel of the hand piece.The straps 33 are preferably fastened rigidly to the angle attachment,while the straps 24 and 35 are slidable along the barrel of the handpiece. Accordingly when it is desired to remove the attachment, theentire assembly will be slid off the hand piece, the metallic tubingsections of the lines 1 and 8 serving to hold the various parts togetherwith sufficient rigidity. The point of separation of the angleattachment proper from the hand piece unit II to and through the heater34 upon the hand piece, is likewise maintained at a similar temperature,the effect of the water in this connection being of considerableassistance in maintaining the desired stability within the air system.

Due to the fact that the air is open at the nozzle end, a certain amountof diffusion may take place. The air is also relatively difficult toheat and passes through the system in much greater volume than thewater. For these reasons, the booster heater 36, which operates wheneverthe air is turned on by means of the foot pedal 23 is provided andraises the temperature of the air sufficiently to insure an adequate Jetof warm air within the desired temperature range at all times.

In the application of the invention to a contraangle attachment, thepositioning of the parts fastened to the attachment proper is oi'considerable importance, due to the fact that certain surfaces of theattachment must be left free for the `fingers and undue bulk cannot betolerated.

With this in mind, the slide 30 is positioned on the top of thecontra-angle attachment and slightly to one side as shown in Figures 1and 4. Assuming the unit is designed for right handed operation, as isthe case in the drawing, the slide will be somewhat to the left. Withthis construction, interi'erence with the normal and necessaryoperations of the mechanism is avoided. As normally used, the thumb oi'the operator will be placed on the contra-angle sha'nk is indicated inFigure 1 by the letter W. The

hanger I0 is also conveniently made in such form as to permit theflexible section 8 to be slipped out of the samewhen the angleattachment and attached assembly are removed.

In addition to the heating units I3 and 34, previously referred to, aheating unit 36 positioned within the air nozzle 6 as shown in Figure 6is provided and the ilexibleline 9 includes an electric heater coil 31,which preferably extends throughout its entire length. For clarity, theelectrical connections of the various heaters are omitted from thedrawing with the exception of a portion of the electric heater line 38leading to the heater 38 which is positioned in the air nozzle.According to the preferred embodiment, the heater element I3 iscontrolled by the thermostat I1 reacting to the temperature within theheater tank I2, while the heater elements 34 and 31 are controlled by asmaller thermostat 38 which registers the temperature of the Water andair lines adjacent the heater 34. Heater 38, as previously mentioned isnot controlled thermostatically but is turned on whenever the air valveis opened.

By the mechanism shown, the water line 1 is maintained at the desiredtemperature of, say, 100 F. at all times. The air, due to thejuxtaposition of the air and water system from supply adjacent to andbelow the slide 30. The first finger is utilized to work the slide andwill rest upon the same or upon the contra-angle shank close thereto,while the first joint of the second finger will be pressed under thecontra-angle. In this way, the valve control means is placed in positionfor ready operation while the normal grip upon the contra-angleattachment is not interfered with.

The instrument of the invention, as will be apparent to those skilled inthe art, very greatly expedites drilling operations, as it eliminatesthe need for successively laying down and picking up two or threeinstruments according to the present practice. The drilling may,therefore, be accom- -plished at greater speed and with less discomfortto the patient, as the syringing of a cavity which is being drilledrequires merely turning on the water jet with a slight movement of thefinger. Drying out of the cavity is accomplished with the instrument inthe same position by merely depressing the foot pedal. The drill orother instrument may be removed from the cavity, or not as desired,Inasmucl. as the water valve is located upon the hand piece and thewhole water system is kept at the desired warmth thermostatically,accurate temperature control oi' the water is provided for. Location ofthe air valve at a remote point for foot operation makes possible theoperation of either the air of water syringe, as desired, withoutshifting the fingers or requiring too bulky an instrument.

What is claimed is:

1. Dental apparatus comprising, in combination, a contra-angleattachment, air and water syringe nozzles mounted upon the head of saidcontra-angle attachment in position to direct air and water jets past adrill held thereon, a collar attached to said contra-angle attachment inposition to slide over a hand piece when the attachment is placedthereon, air and Water lines extending from said nozzles to said collar,so as to be positioned along the side of a hand piece when theattachment is placed thereon, the said lines comprising a flrst sectionextending from the nozzles and continuing around'one side of the neck ofthe contra-angle attachment to a second section along the top and towardthe same side of the contra-angle attachment and being continued by athird section running along the same side of the hand piece, and afinger-operated Water valve control member mounted on the top of thesame side of the shank of the contra-angle attachment as the said secondsection of the air and water lines. f

2. Dental apparatus comprising, in combination, a. contra-angleattachment, air and water syringe nozzles mounted upon the head of saidcontra-angle attachment in position to direct air and water jets past adrill held thereon, a collar attached to said contra-angle attachment inposition to slide over a hand piece when the attachment is placedthereon, air and water lines extending from said nozzles to said collar,so as to be positioned along the side of a hand piece l air valveoperable independently of the drill mo' tor.

4. Dental apparatus including, in combination a driven dental devicehaving a freely movable manipulative device which includes a hand pieceand a contra-angle drill holder, an air discharge nozzle and a Waterdischarge nozzle mounted upon the contra-angle drill holder and locatedadjacent a drill supported in the drill holder to direct an air jet anda water jet past the drill in undisturbed jets and closely adjacentthereto, an air conduit communicating the air discharge nozzle with asource of air supply, a water conduit communicating the water dischargenozzle with a source of water supply, a valve for controlling thepassage of water through the water conduit, a valve-operating membermovably supported by the manipulative device, and operably connected tothe Water valve and located at the top and toone side of the hand pieceand contraangle drill holder and out of the way of the grip of thefinger but in position for convenient manipulation by a finger of thesame hand which manipulates the drill holder, the air and Water conduitsextending generally inwardly from the said discharge nozzles to andimmediately adjacent and parallel with the valve-operating memberthrough its length and then downwardly and then along a side of themanipulative device in parallel relation thereto, and a remotely-locatedfoot-operated valve for controlling the passage of air through the airconduit and discharge nozzle.

RICHARD W. PAGE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent: l

UNITED STATS PATENTS Number Name Date 2,098,732 Prather NOV, 9, 19371,080,261 Bush Dec. 2, 1913 1,000,785 Cunningham Aug. 15, 1911 902,942Craig Nov. 3, 1908 2,245,036 Henschel June 10, 1941 2,369,880 BailensonFeb. 20, 1945 696,652 Merriman Apr. 1, 1902

